Boundary expansion rejection welcomed by parishes

Ramsey Commissioners had argued the extension would "future-proof the town"

The rejection of a bid to expand the boundary of a northern town has been welcomed by two neighbouring local authorities.

An application by Ramsey Commissioners to double the size of the town, was denied on the grounds it had "sufficient" land to accommodate its predicted growth.

Both the Garff and Lezayre local authorities had opposed the application, which would have seen them lose land, at a public inquiry in January.

Chairman of Lezaye Commissioners Julian Teare said the bid to move the boundaries when housing need had not been identified was "making assumptions".

'Uphill struggle'

He said the process of contesting the move by the larger authority had been an "uphill struggle", and the board would now need to recuperate costs because "many hours of work" had gone into the inquiry.

Chairman of Garff Commissioner Marinda Faragher said the parts of parish that would have been included in the boundary extension were largely glens and hill land.

She added the authority "could not see the sense of including woodland" as it was "never going to be set aside for housing" and did not "fit the criteria laid down by Tynwald for boundary extension".

Garff commissioners put forward the argument that the debate on future housing need of Ramsey should be part of the public inquiry into the area plan for the north and West, due to start in July, she added.

Ramsey Commissioner Finlo Williams said that while he could "see why the inspector at the moment would say there is still room to expand in Ramsey", similar proposals were last made 20 years ago, and the town would be "overflowing" if it needed to wait that long again.